Payroll Specialist

Distinct | North America; Carmel (IN); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Payroll Certification support

Health coverage

401(k) matching

Team events

Hybrid work after 6 months

Job summary

Distinct | North America is seeking a Payroll Specialist to manage payroll for a group of small business clients in Indianapolis. You will process payroll on schedule, prepare and reconcile reports, and handle adjustments while maintaining close client contact.

The role offers training, certification support, and opportunities for career growth. After six months, you may work from home up to 20% while mostly in the office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Experience with payroll platform is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Look after payroll for a group of small business clients, processing payroll to their schedules and reconciling reports.
• Prepare and reconcile payroll reports and handle adjustments.
• Maintain strong client contact, help owners gather information and support them with the payroll platform.
• Support quarterly client reviews and assist the Payroll Compliance & Tax Manager with federal and state payroll tax filings.

Skills

Organizational skills

Client communication

Attention to detail

Tech-savvy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Payroll software

Job description

There are plenty of jobs where getting good at what you do simply means you get given more of it.

This one actually gives you somewhere to go with it.

I’m working with an established Indianapolis accounting firm that has spent more than 25 years supporting small businesses. They work with 300+ businesses across accounting, tax and payroll, and they’ve been named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana in both 2025 and 2026.

They’re looking for someone to join their payroll team, and interestingly, you don’t necessarily need to come from payroll.

If you’re organised, good with clients and naturally pay attention to the details, they’re happy to teach you the payroll side. If you already have payroll experience and want somewhere with more room to develop, that works too.

So, what will you actually be doing?

You’ll look after payroll for your own group of small business clients, processing payroll to their individual schedules, preparing and reconciling reports and handling any adjustments along the way.

There’s plenty of client contact too. You’ll help business owners get the right information across each pay period, answer questions and support them with the payroll platform. You’ll also get involved in quarterly client reviews and support the Payroll Compliance & Tax Manager with federal and state payroll tax filings.

A bachelor’s degree is preferred, and they’re looking for someone comfortable with technology who can manage deadlines independently and communicate well with clients.

The role is based in their Indianapolis office, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Benefits & Perks

• They’ll also pay for you to complete your Fundamental Payroll Certification, with company time to do it. From there, there’s support towards further qualifications and a route into more senior payroll positions.
• There’s medical, dental and vision coverage, alongside a 401(k) with matching.
• The firm also holds more than 15 employee events throughout the year, including family days out.
• After six months, there’s the opportunity to work from home for up to 20% of the week, but ideally you’ll be in the office to start.

It’s a firm that’s been around for 25+ years, still growing and has client retention above 95%. More importantly for whoever joins, they’re prepared to invest in teaching you something and give you somewhere to take it afterwards.

You might already work in payroll and fancy a better long term home. Or maybe payroll hasn’t been your job title yet, but the work itself sounds suspiciously like something you’d be good at.

We support the CPA firms we partner with in building diverse, inclusive and equitable workplaces, and the right attitude often goes further than ticking every box.

If this position isn't quite right, it's highly likely I'll be working on another Public Accounting opportunity that is.